Vehicle and docking bay sealing method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A panel assembly is provided for providing a seal between a vehicle, such as a delivery truck, and a fixed structure, such as a loading dock of an office building or warehouse. The panel assembly includes one or more panels that include a foam core and a layer positioned adjacent to the foam core. The layer may include laminated polymer sheets or any of a variety of rigid materials, such as steel, fiberglass, wood and aluminum.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 10/615,296, filed Jul. 9, 2003, which in turnclaims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 60/471,728, filed May 20, 2003. The entire contents of both of theseapplications is hereby incorporated herein by reference

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to devices and methods forproviding a seal between a vehicle and a structure. More particularly,the present invention relates to dock seals and shelters that engagetrucks at loading docks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Structures, such as the loading docks of warehouses and officebuildings, typically accommodate the loading and unloading of items fromdelivery trucks. When a delivery or pick-up is made, a delivery truck isusually backed up to a loading dock and the rear doors of the truck areopened. Then, workers are able to travel back and forth between theloading dock and the truck's storage compartment as the workers loaditems into or unload items from the truck.

Unfortunately, when weather conditions are adverse, rain, snow, sleet,wind, cold air or warm air enters the loading dock through gaps that arepresent between the loading dock and the rear of the delivery truckbeing loaded or unloaded. Further, when the rear doors of the truck areopened and folded back against the sides of the truck, unconditioned airand moisture can enter through gaps between the doors and the sides ofthe trucks (i.e., “hinge gaps”). This leaves items in the truck and theworkers who are loading or unloading the truck exposed to theunfavorable weather conditions. This also makes efficient heating orcooling of the loading dock difficult.

In addition, if items in the truck are perishable (e.g., foodstuffs),exposing the items to the unfavorable weather conditions could lead tospoilage. Even further, when there are gaps between the loading dock andthe truck, unscrupulous workers may steal items from the truck bypassing the items through the gaps to cohorts standing outside of thetruck.

Accordingly, it would desirable to provide apparatuses for providingseals between vehicles, such as delivery trucks, and structures, such asloading docks, that would prevent the structures from being exposed toadverse weather conditions. It would also be desirable to providemethods for forming such seals between such vehicles and structures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The forgoing needs are met, to a great extent, by certain embodiments ofthe present wherein, in one aspect thereof a panel assembly is provided.The panel assembly includes a first panel that itself includes a firstfoam core having a first side and a first layer adjacent to the firstside. The panel assembly also includes a second panel and a connectorthat is connected to the first panel and to the second panel. Theconnector is configured to allow for the first panel to move relative tothe second panel.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a method ofmanufacturing a panel assembly is provided. The method includes forminga first panel having a first foam core and a first layer adjacent to afirst side of the first foam core. The method also includes attachingthe first layer to the first side of the first foam core. The methodfurther includes attaching a second panel to the first panel using afirst connector.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, another panelassembly is provided. The panel assembly includes first engaging meansfor engaging a first portion of a vehicle. The first engaging meansitself includes filling means for filling an interior portion of thefirst engaging means, wherein the filling means includes a first side.The first engaging means also includes covering means for covering thefilling means, wherein the covering means is positioned adjacent to thefirst side of the filling means. The panel assembly also includes secondengaging means for engaging the first portion of the vehicle. Inaddition, the panel assembly includes connecting means for connectingthe first engaging means and the second engaging means, wherein theconnecting means is configured to allow for the first engaging means tomove relative to the second engaging means.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, certain embodiments of theinvention in order that the detailed description thereof herein may bebetter understood, and in order that the present contribution to the artmay be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional embodimentsof the invention that will be described below and which will form thesubject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of theinvention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited in its application to the details of construction and to thearrangements of the components set forth in the following description orillustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of embodiments inaddition to those described and of being practiced and carried out invarious ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology andterminology employed herein, as well as the abstract, are for thepurpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conceptionupon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basisfor the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carryingout the several purposes of the present invention. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a portion of a vehicle positioned adjacent to afixed structure and partially positioned within an engaging mechanismaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a portion of the engaging mechanism illustratedin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a receiving member and resilientmember that are both formed from a single component;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the engaging mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 1and 2 wherein the engaging mechanism is illustrated in an engagedposition and in an unengaged position; and

FIG. 5 is a top view of an engaging mechanism according to anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of components of a shelter according tocertain embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another shelter according to certainembodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a front view of yet another shelter according to certainembodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Certain embodiments of the present invention will now be described withreference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals referto like parts throughout. The attached figures and following descriptionwill explain in detail embodiments of the invention. Some of theseembodiments will provide a method and apparatus that will allow a cargovehicle to be connected to a loading dock in a manner that will reduceair loss form the interior of the loading dock and vehicle to theoutside.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a portion of a vehicle 10 positioned adjacentto a fixed structure 14 and partially positioned within an engagingmechanism 16. In FIG. 1, the vehicle 10 is a delivery truck and thefixed structure 14 is a loading dock. However, other vehicles andstructures are also within the scope of the present invention. Asillustrated in FIG. 1, the rear door 12 of the vehicle 10 is open and isfolded back into a position that is parallel to the side 17 of thevehicle 10.

The engaging mechanism 16 illustrated in FIG. 1 extends between thevehicle 10 and the fixed structure 14. As will be explained below, whena portion of the vehicle 10 is fully engaged with the engaging mechanism16, either a partial or a complete seal is formed between the vehicle 10and the engaging mechanism 16. Such a seal either prevents or hindersadverse weather conditions (e.g., rain, snow, sleet, wind, cold air orwarm air) from entering the structure 14 through gaps between thestructure 14 and the vehicle 10 while the vehicle 10 is being loaded orunloaded. In other words, the engaging mechanism 16 hinders conditionedair (whether it is cold or warm) from being lost to the outside.

FIG. 2 is a top view of a portion of the engaging mechanism 16illustrated in FIG. 1. The portion of the engaging mechanism 16illustrated in FIG. 2 includes a receiving member 18, a resilient member24 having a free end 25 and a fixed end 27, a belt 26 having aresilient-member-proximate end 29 and a receiving-member-proximate end31, a receiving-member-adjacent deformable medium 28, a plurality offasteners 30, 32, 34, 37, a spring 35 and an engaging mechanism support36.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the receiving member 18 is configured toaccommodate insertion of a portion of the vehicle 10 therein. Morespecifically, the receiving member 18, which takes the form of a hook inFIG. 2, can accommodate the insertion of a portion of the door 12 of thevehicle 10 and a portion of a sidewall 20 that is located on the side 17of the vehicle 10. Also, the receiving member 18 is configured toaccommodate the insertion of a hinge 22 that allows for the door 12 toswing open relative to the sidewall 20 as the door 12 is opened.

Although the receiving member 18 in FIG. 2 takes the form of a hook,other geometries may be used to implement the receiving member 18. Forexample, the receiving member 18 may take the form of a semicircle ormay have one or more distinct sides, as opposed to being a smooth arc.

The resilient member 24 is illustrated in FIG. 2 as being connected tothe receiving member 18. According to certain embodiments of the presentinvention, the resilient member 24 takes the form of a spring that is ina neutral position in FIG. 2. The resilient member 24 may be made fromor may include portions that are made from any material that exhibitselastic properties. For example, polymers (e.g., rubbers and elastomers)or metals may be used.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the resilientmember 24 is pliable and can bend either towards the sidewall 20illustrated in FIG. 2 or away from the sidewall 20 (i.e., towards thetop of FIG. 2). When the door 12, hinge 22 and sidewall 20 of a vehicle10 are positioned relative to the engaging mechanism 16 as illustratedin FIG. 2, the vehicle 10 is aligned with the engaging mechanism 16.Movement of the vehicle 10 toward the belt 26 and then engagement withthe belt 26 causes the end of the belt 26 to pull the resilient member24 and causes the resilient member 24 to bend toward the sidewall 20,thereby engaging the free end 25 of the resilient member 24 with thesidewall 20 of the vehicle. As the vehicle 10 continues to move, thebelt 26, vehicle sidewall 20, door 12 and hinge 22 will engage thereceiving-member-adjacent deformable member 28 and deform it to create aseal of hinge gaps between the sidewall 20 and the door 12.

For the sake of simplicity in describing operation and interactionbetween the belt 26 and the vehicle 10, the belt 26 is described in thesingular. However, as shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of belts 26 may belocated along the engaging mechanism 16. In some embodiments of theinvention, there may be only one belt 26 located on the engagingmechanism 16 and this belt 26 would typically be as wide as orsubstantially as wide as the engaging mechanism 16 is high. Of course,if the belt 26 extends along the entire height of the vehicle 10, thenthe belt 26 may also help seal the hinge gaps.

Once the vehicle 10 is sealed to the fixed structure 14, large items(e.g., pallets loaded with freight) are often transported between theinterior of the vehicle 10 and the fixed structure 14 during loading andunloading of the vehicle 10. In many cases, fork trucks are used totransport the large items and the fork trucks are often driven at leastpartially into the interior of the vehicle 10.

As a fork truck backs away from the interior of the vehicle 10, theinterior of the sidewall 20 of the vehicle is sometimes bumped and theresilient member 24 is sometimes inadvertently snagged or hooked by thefork truck. Therefore, according to certain embodiments of the presentinvention, the resilient member 24 is configured to bend away from thesidewall 20 without breaking. Also, according to these embodiments, thespring 35 is configured to bend away from the support 36. Therefore, inthese embodiments, when the fork truck stops snagging or hooking theresilient member 24, the spring 35 moves back against the support 36,the resilient member 24 snaps back against the interior of the sidewall20 and neither the spring 35, the resilient member 24 nor any otherportion of the engaging mechanism 16 is broken.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the resilientmember 24 has a non-uniform composition and/or geometry. For example,the resilient member 24 may be thicker at the fixed end 27 thereof thanat the free end 25 thereof. As another example, the resilient member 24may be made from a polymer whose composition changes gradually betweenthe free end 25 and the fixed end 27.

When the resilient member 24 has a non-uniform geometry or compositionand is pushed against by a fork truck backing out of a vehicle 10, theresilient member 24 typically exerts a restorative force against thefork truck. As one would expect, the amount of restorative force exertedis typically dependent upon where on resilient member 24 the fork truckpushes (i.e., where the fork truck applies a distortive force to theresilient member 24). For example, if the resilient member 24 is thinnerat the free end 25 thereof, the receiving member 24 will exert a lowerrestorative force upon a portion of a fork truck that pushes against thefree end 25 of the resilient member 24 than if the portion of the forktruck were to push closer to the fixed end 27. Thus, according tocertain embodiments of the present invention, when a portion of the forktruck pushes against the resilient member 24 and pulls it away from thesidewall 20 of the vehicle 10, the resilient member 24 can readily bendbackward and allow the fork truck to travel past the engaging mechanism16.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, a resilient-member-proximate end 29 of thebelt 26 is connected to the resilient member 24. With reference to FIG.1, the belt 26 may be positioned at any location along the height of theengaging mechanism 16 or may extend across the entire height of theengaging mechanism 16. According to certain embodiments of the presentinvention, more than one belt 26 may be included in the engagingmechanism 16. When more than one belt 16 is used, the plurality of belts26 are typically staggered along the height of the engaging member 16,either at regular intervals or at locations that are most likely to beengaged by portions of the vehicle 10 as the vehicle 10 moves toward thefixed structure 14.

In FIG. 2, a receiving-member-proximate end 31 of the belt 26 isdirectly connected to the receiving member 18. However, one of skill inthe art will appreciate that the receiving-member-proximate end 31 ofthe belt 26 need not be directly connected to the receiving member 18.Rather, according to certain embodiments of the present invention, thereceiving-member-proximate end 31 may be connected to other portions ofthe engaging mechanism 16. For example, the receiving-member-proximateend 31 may be connected to the spring 35 or the engaging mechanismsupport 36 illustrated in FIG. 2.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the belt 26includes one or more webbed portions (i.e., portions that include porouswebbing). Typically, such webbed portions allow for air to circulatethrough the engaging mechanism 16. Also, since porous webbing is oftenrelatively inexpensive, the use of porous webbing may lower the overallcost of the engaging mechanism 16. However, solid belts and belts withalternate geometries are also within the scope of the present invention.

The receiving-member-adjacent deformable medium 28 illustrated in FIG. 2is connected to the receiving member 18 and typically includes a foammaterial (i.e., a light, porous, semi-rigid and/or spongy material).However, other materials (e.g., gels and polymers such as elastomers andrubbers) may also be included in the receiving-member-adjacentdeformable medium 28. Usually, the receiving-member-adjacent deformablemedium 28 includes a material that is elastic in nature. Thus, pursuantto being deformed by a force applied by a portion of a vehicle 10,removal of the force typically allows the receiving-member-adjacentdeformable medium 28 to regain its original geometry. However, theinclusion of plastic materials in the receiving-member-adjacentdeformable medium 28 is also within the scope of the present invention.

In some embodiments of the present invention, the receiving member 18deforms as the hinge 22, sidewall 20 and door 12 of the vehicle 10 backinto it along with the belt 26. This deformation of the receiving member18 aids in creating a seal around a gap between the sidewall 20 and thedoor 12.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, thereceiving-member-adjacent deformable medium 28 and the belt 26 arecompletely separate components and are completely detached from eachother. However, according to other embodiments of the present invention,the belt 26 and the receiving-member-adjacent deformable medium 28 abuteach other. In such embodiments, the receiving-member-adjacentdeformable medium 28 can also fill up all of the space between thereceiving member 18 and the belt 26.

The first fastener 30 illustrated in FIG. 2 directly connects theresilient member 24 to the receiving member 18, the second fastener 32directly connects the belt 26 to the resilient member 24 and the thirdfastener 34 directly connects the receiving member 18 and the belt 26 tothe spring 35, which itself is connected to the engaging mechanismsupport 36 with the fourth fastener 37. In some embodiments of theinvention, such as shown in the figures, the fasteners 30, 32, 34, 37can be bolts, screws, staples, hook and loop devices or any othersuitable fastener. Also, alternate connections between the receivingmember 18, the resilient member 24, the belt 26, the spring 35 and/orthe engaging mechanism support 36 are within the scope of the presentinvention. For example, the belt 26 may be sewn to resilient member 24and/or to the engaging mechanism support 36.

The receiving member 18 and the resilient member 24 are illustrated inFIG. 2 as distinct components. However, according to certain embodimentsof the present invention, the receiving member 18 and the resilientmember 24 are formed from a single component. For example, the receivingmember 18 and the resilient member 24 may both be formed from a sheet oran extruded shape.

When the receiving member 18 and the resilient member 24 are both formedfrom a single component 50 as illustrated in FIG. 3, a notch 52,indentation or other cross-sectional thickness change typicallyindicates which portion of the single component 50 makes up thereceiving member 18 and which portion makes up the resilient member 24.The change in cross-sectional thickness 52 is typically abrupt andfacilitates movement of the resilient member 24 relative to thereceiving member 18. However, gradual cross-sectional thickness changesthat facilitate such movement are also within the scope of certainembodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the dashed linesrepresent the position of the resilient member 24 after being movedrelative to the receiving member 18.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the engaging mechanism 16 illustrated in FIGS. 1and 2 wherein the engaging mechanism 16 is illustrated in an engagedposition A and in an unengaged position B. In the engaged position A,the engaging mechanism 16 is in contact with (i.e., engaged) with a door12, hinge 22 and sidewall 20 of a vehicle 10. In the unengaged positionB, the engaging mechanism 16 is not in contact with any portion of avehicle 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the engaging mechanism support 36 illustratedin FIG. 2 is connected to a wall support 38 using an inter-supportconnector 40. According to certain embodiments of the present invention,the inter-support connector 40 allows for the engaging mechanism support36 to move (i.e., rotate or swing) relative to the wall support 38 whenthe engaging mechanism 16 is being pushed by a portion of a vehicleadjacent thereto. The inter-support connector 40 may take the form, forexample, of a hinge or swivel. According to certain embodiments of thepresent invention, the inter-support connector 40 includes a piece offiberglass that is sufficiently thin to flex and act as a hinge.

No particular restrictions are made on the geometries or materials usedin either of the engaging mechanism support 36 or the wall support 38.Any structure capable of supporting the components of the engagingmechanism 16 illustrated in FIG.2 may be used. For example, one or bothof the supports 36,38 may take-the form of substantially flat panelsmade of galvanized steel or aluminum.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, a structurally-affixed connector 42 connectsthe wall support 38 to a fixed structure 14. As also illustrated in FIG.4, the structurally-affixed connector 42 allows the wall support 38 tomove relative to the structure 14. Like the inter-support connector 40,the structurally-affixed connector 42 may include, for example, a hinge,metal bracket, elastomer, leaf spring, swivel, piece of fiberglass orany other suitable connecting device.

FIG. 5 is a top view of an engaging mechanism 54 according to anotherembodiment of the present invention. The engaging mechanism 54illustrated in FIG. 5 includes the receiving member 18, resilient member24, belt 26 and deformable medium 28 described above. As illustrated inFIG. 5, the engaging mechanism 54 also includes an engaging mechanismsupport 56 and a wall support 58, each of which may, for example, takethe form of a substantially flat panel.

The wall support 58 has a first flexible hinge 60 connected to a firstend thereof and a second flexible hinge 62 located at a second endthereof. According to certain embodiments of the present invention, thefirst hinge 60 and the second hinge 62 are each made from fiberglass.However, including a metal, an elastomer or any other suitable materialin the first hinge 60 and second hinge 62 is also within the scope ofthe present invention.

Unlike the engaging mechanism support 36 and wall support 38 illustratedin FIG. 4, which may be made entirely from, for example, galvanizedsteel, plastic (e.g., vinyl or polyethylene), fabric, foam covered infabric, fiberglass, wood, or aluminum, the engaging mechanism support 56and wall support 58 illustrated in FIG. 5 each have a core 64, 65 madefrom a first material and a layer 66, 67 positioned adjacent to the core64, 65 and made from a second material which is typically different fromthe first material.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the layers66, 67 include one or more laminate sheets positioned on one or morefaces of the core 64, 65. According to some of these embodiments, eachcore 64, 65 includes a foam material and each of the laminate sheets inthe layers 66, 67 includes a polymer material (e.g., acrylonitrilebutadiene styrene or another plastic). The layers 66, 67 may extendaround the perimeters of the cores 64, 65 and often completely encasethe cores 64, 65, thereby protecting the cores 64, 65 from ambientconditions. However, according to certain embodiments of the presentinvention, one or more laminate sheets are positioned adjacent to eachside of each core 64,65, thereby “sandwiching” each of the cores 64, 65between two separate portions of the layers 66, 67.

The layers 66, 67 may, according to other embodiments of the presentinvention, take the form of a non-polymeric material. For example, thelayers 66, 67 may include steel (e.g., galvanized steel), fiberglass,wood or aluminum. According to these embodiments, the layers 66, 67often take the form of casings (e.g., rectangular boxes) into which foamthat solidifies into the cores 64, 65 is injected into.

A variety of methods are available to manufacture panel assemblies suchas the one illustrated in FIG. 5 that includes the engaging mechanismsupport 56 and the wall support 58. According to one such method, afirst panel (e.g., engaging mechanism support 56) is formed to have afirst foam core (e.g., core 64) at the center thereof and a first layer(e.g., layer 66) positioned adjacent to a first side of the first foamcore. Then, the first layer (e.g., layer 66) is attached to the firstside of the first foam core (e.g., core 64).

The above steps may be implemented, for example, by laminating one ormore polymer sheets onto the first side of the first panel (e.g.,engaging mechanism support 56) to form the first layer (e.g., layer 66).If the first layer includes two separate portions on opposite sides ofthe first core, one or more polymer sheets may be adhered to each sideof the first foam core.

An adhesive or thermal method may be used, for example, to adhere one ormore laminated sheets to the first core (e.g., core 64) to form thefirst layer (e.g., layer 66). As an alternative to using laminatedsheets, a foam may be injected into a first casing to form the firstfoam core. When injecting the foam into the casing, a side of the casinginto which the foam is injected typically includes the above-discussedfirst layer.

Once the first panel (e.g., engaging mechanism support 56) has beenformed and the first layer (e.g., layer 66) has been attached to thefirst foam core, a second panel (e.g., wall support 58) is typicallyattached to the first panel using a first connector (e.g., a flexiblehinge such as the flexible hinge 62 illustrated in FIG. 5). The secondpanel (e.g., wall support 58) is typically formed to have a second foamcore (e.g., core 65) and a second layer (e.g., layer 67) positionedadjacent to a first side of the second foam core. The second layer istypically attached to the first side of the second foam core in a manneranalogous to how the first layer (e.g., layer 66) is attached to thefirst foam core (e.g., core 64). More specifically, the second panel(e.g., wall support 58) may be formed by laminating one or more polymersheet onto one or more sides of the second panel to form either a secondlayer (e.g., layer 67) either on one or both sides of the second foamcore or a foam may be injected into a second casing that includes thesecond layer to form the second foam core (e.g., core 65).

In addition to attaching the second panel to the first panel, anengaging mechanism (e.g., engaging mechanism 16) may be attached to thefirst panel. Typically, the engaging mechanism is formed to include areceiving member (e.g., receiving member 18) configured to accommodateinsertion of a portion of a vehicle therein. The engaging member is alsocommonly formed to include a resilient member (e.g., resilient member24) that is connected to the receiving member. Further, the engagingmember is typically formed to include a belt (e.g., belt 26) that isconnected to the resilient member. In addition, the engaging member iscommonly formed to include a deformable member (e.g., deformable member28) that is connected to the receiving member. Then, the engagingmechanism to usually attached at an end of the first panel that isopposite to where the second panel is attached.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of components of a shelter 68 according tocertain embodiments of the present invention. The shelter 68 includes aright side frame 70 and a left side frame 72 positioned oppositethereto. In operation, the shelter 68 also includes a head frame 74connected to and positioned on top of and between the right side frame70 and the left side frame 72.

Attached to the right side frame 70 is a right side curtain 76 andattached to the left side frame 72 is a left side curtain 78. Thecurtains 76, 78 extend substantially perpendicularly to the side frames70, 72 when no vehicle is engaged in the shelter 68. As illustrated inFIG. 6, each of the side curtains 76, 78 has an engaging mechanism 16attached thereto. Inside each of the side curtains 76, 78 are aplurality of stays 80. When a vehicle backs up to the shelter 68,engages the engaging mechanisms 16 and pushes against curtains 76, 78,the stays 80 act like springs, bend and push back against the vehicle.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the rightside frame 70, the left side frame 72 and/or the head frame 74 are madefrom galvanized steel and are fixedly attached to a loading dock orother fixed structure. According to these embodiments, the right sidecurtain 76 and the left side curtain 78 are typically made of vinylfabric and the stays 80 are typically made of fiberglass.

According to other embodiments of the present invention, the right sideframe 70 and the left side frame 72 can each include a foam pad 71inside of a fabric cover 73. According to some of these embodiments, thehead frame 74 is made from galvanized steel contained within afiberglass cover 75. In these embodiments, the right side frame 70, theleft side frame 72 and/or the head frame 74 are typically also fixedlyattached to a loading dock or other fixed structure and the curtains 76,78 are sewn to the side frames 70, 72.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of another shelter 82 according to certainembodiments of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 7, theshelter 82 includes resilient members 24, a plurality of belts 26,engaging mechanism supports 36 and wall supports 38. The resilientmember 24 illustrated in FIG. 7 includes a fringe portion 84 thatincludes a plurality of slats 86 and belts 26 connected to each of theslats 86. When a vehicle having a relatively low height backs up againstthe shelter 82 illustrated in FIG. 7, the vehicle does not engage all ofthe belts 26 but only those belts 26 that correspond to the vehicle'sheight and therefore does not cause all of the slats 86 in the fringeregion 84 to be pulled toward the interior surface of the sidewall ofthe vehicle. In other words, each of the slats 86 is individuallymoveable relative to other slats 86. Such a configuration allows for abetter seal because the resilient member 24 is not pushed away by thevehicle's roof.

FIG. 8 is a front view of yet another shelter 83 according to certainembodiments of the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 8, theshelter 83 is connected to a fixed structure 14 and includes a rightside curtain 76, a left side curtain 78 and a top curtain 88. Each ofthe curtains 76, 78, 88 includes a plurality of stays 80 that allow thecurtains 76, 78, 88 to bend when pushed against by a vehicle. Each ofthe curtains 76, 78, 88 also has an engaging mechanism 16 connectedthereto. As such, when a vehicle approaches the fixed structure 14illustrated in FIG. 8, engaging mechanisms 16 may form seals with theright, left and top sides of the vehicle's interior.

According to other embodiments of the present invention, a method ofsealing a vehicle to a structure is provided. Such a method isparticularly applicable to sealing the rear portion of a delivery truckto a loading dock of a warehouse or office building. However, seals maybe formed between other vehicles and structures according to the presentinvention. It should be noted that methods according to the presentinvention allow for partial or complete seals to be formed betweenvehicles and structures.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the method ofsealing includes pushing a first deformable medium into a distinctsecond deformable medium with a vehicle, thereby deforming the firstdeformable medium and the second deformable medium. The first deformablemedium may, for example, take the form of the belt 26 illustrated inFIG. 2 while the second deformable medium may, for example, take theform of a foam material. According to these embodiments, theabove-discussed door 12, hinge 22 and/or sidewall 20 of the vehicle 10may be used to push the belt 26 into the receiving-member-adjacentdeformable medium 28 to deform both.

The above-described pushing step of the method may also include moving afirst support relative to a fixed structure, wherein the first supportis connected to the first deformable medium and to the fixed structure.In implementing the pushing step, the vehicle 10 illustrated in FIG. 1may be used to push the belt 26 into the receiving member 18 asdiscussed above and may additionally push with enough force to move thereceiving member 18 from position B illustrated in FIG. 4 to position A.The wall support 38 is thereby moved relative to the fixed structure 14when the structurally-affixed connector 42 allows for such motion.

The above pushing step may also include moving a second support relativeto the first support, wherein the second support is connected betweenthe first support and the first deformable medium. As illustrated inFIG. 4, the pushing step may be implemented by moving the engagingmechanism 16 from the position A to position B, thereby moving theengaging mechanism support 36 relative to the wall support 38.

According to certain embodiments of the present invention, the method ofsealing a vehicle to a structure also includes pulling a resilientmember connected to the first deformable medium towards a side of avehicle using the first deformable medium as the first deformable mediumis deformed. This pulling step may be implemented, for example, bydeforming the belt 26 illustrated in FIG. 2 with the door 12, sidewall20 and/or hinge 22 of the vehicle 10. As the belt 26 gets deformed, theresilient member 24 connected to the belt 26 is pulled towards thesidewall 20 by the belt 26. As the resilient member 24 gets closer tothe sidewall 20, a seal is formed between the resilient member 24 andthe sidewall.

The above-described pulling step typically forms a seal between theresilient member and the side of the vehicle and may also seal the hingegap. As illustrated in FIG. 4, in position A, the resilient member 24and the inside of the sidewall 20 are in close enough proximity to eachother to seal off the outside environment. Additional sealing of thehinge gap is provided between the receiving-member-adjacent deformablemedium 28 and the top surface of the vehicle 10 illustrated in FIG. 4.

It should be noted that, according to certain embodiments of the presentinvention, the above-discussed sealing methods and seals are not limitedto those that provide hermetic sealing. More specifically, one of skillin the art will appreciate that, since delivery truck and loading dockgeometries can fluctuate, not all engaging mechanisms and methods ofsealing according to the present invention will fully preventconditioned air from being lost to the outside. Rather, according to thepresent invention, a seal and/or a method of sealing hinders at leastsome, and sometimes all, of the conditioned air from being lost to theoutside. In other words, for the purposes of this document, sealingmeans hindering air movement.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from thedetailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claimsto cover all such features and advantages of the invention which fallwithin the true spirit and scope of the invention. Further, sincenumerous modifications and variations will readily occur to thoseskilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to theexact construction and operation illustrated and described, andaccordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resortedto, falling within the scope of the invention.

1. A panel assembly, comprising: a first panel that includes a firstfoam core having a first side, and a first layer adjacent to the firstside; a second panel; and a first connector connected to the first paneland to the second panel and configured to allow for the first panel tomove relative to the second panel.
 2. The panel assembly of claim 1,wherein the first layer comprises a polymer.
 3. The panel assembly ofclaim 2, wherein the first layer comprises a plurality of plasticsheets.
 4. The panel assembly of claim 1, wherein the first layerextends around a perimeter of the first foam core.
 5. The panel assemblyof claim 4, wherein the first layer comprises at least one of steel,fiberglass, wood or aluminum.
 6. The panel assembly of claim 1, whereinthe second panel comprises: a second foam core having a second side; anda second layer adjacent to the second side.
 7. The panel assembly ofclaim 6, wherein the second layer comprises a polymer.
 8. The panelassembly of claim 7, wherein the second layer comprises a plurality ofplastic sheets.
 9. The panel assembly of claim 6, wherein the secondlayer comprises at least one of steel, fiberglass, wood or aluminum. 10.The panel assembly of claim 1, further comprising: an engaging mechanismattached to the first panel, the engaging mechanism including; areceiving member configured to accommodate insertion of a portion of avehicle therein, a resilient member connected to the receiving member, abelt connected to the resilient member, and a deformable memberconnected to the receiving member.
 11. A method of manufacturing a panelassembly, the method comprising: forming a first panel having a firstfoam core and a first layer adjacent to a first side of the first foamcore; attaching the first layer to the first side of the first foamcore; and attaching a second panel to the first panel using a firstconnector.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the forming the firstpanel step comprises: laminating a first polymer sheet onto the firstside of the first panel to form the first layer.
 13. The method of claim11, wherein the forming the first panel step comprises: injecting a foaminto a first casing to form the first foam core, wherein the firstcasing includes the first layer.
 14. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising: forming the second panel to have a second foam core and asecond layer adjacent to a first side of the second foam core; andattaching the second layer to the first side of the second foam core.15. The method of claim 14, wherein the forming the second panel stepcomprises: laminating a second polymer sheet onto the first side of thesecond panel to form the second layer.
 16. The method of claim 14,wherein the forming the second panel step comprises: injecting a foaminto a second casing to form the second foam core, wherein the secondcasing includes the second layer.
 17. The method of claim 11, furthercomprising: attaching an engaging mechanism to the first panel.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, further comprising: forming the engaging mechanismto include a receiving member configured to accommodate insertion of aportion of a vehicle therein, a resilient member connected to thereceiving member, a belt connected to the resilient member and adeformable member connected to the receiving member.
 19. A panelassembly, comprising: first engaging means for engaging a first portionof a vehicle, the first engaging means including; filling means forfilling an interior portion of the first engaging means, wherein thefilling means includes a first side, and covering means for covering thefilling means, wherein the covering means is positioned adjacent to thefirst side of the filling means; and second engaging means for engagingthe first portion of the vehicle; and connecting means for connectingthe first engaging means and the second engaging means, wherein theconnecting means is configured to allow for the first engaging means tomove relative to the second engaging means.
 20. The panel assembly ofclaim 19, further comprising: third engaging means for engaging a secondportion of the vehicle, wherein the third engaging means is connected tothe first engaging means, the third engaging model including; receivingmeans for receiving the second portion of the vehicle therein; firstsealing means for creating a seal against a first surface of thevehicle; second sealing means for creating a seal against a secondsurface of the vehicle; and pulling means, detached from the secondaligning means, for pulling the first sealing means toward the firstsurface of the vehicle when the portion of the vehicle is receivedwithin the receiving means.